This is something called the element breath.
Its roots come from Anayat Khan,
The first Sufi to come to the West to share his message of love,
Harmony,
And beauty.
These practices help one to connect to the divinity within oneself and within the earth as well.
Within the elements,
Creating balance and harmony within oneself.
It's recommended that you spend one month with this practice with each element.
The first element is the earth element.
Traditionally,
This breath practice should take about one to five minutes every day.
Most teachers recommend that you sit outdoors or stand outdoors,
Or if so,
Maybe you can look out the window.
So,
The earth breath stimulates the horizontal motion of the subtle energetic current of the breath.
The direction of the earth element is level and its nature is spreading.
So as you breathe in through your nose and exhale through your nose,
Do this five times.
The earth element has a yellow color,
So you may visualize that as you breathe in through your nose and out through your nose.
You may go so far as to visualize yourself as a tree,
Allowing your roots to ground deeply into the earth and allowing the earth to purify your body.
You may think about nature,
About rocks,
About trees,
About the solid quality and firmness of the earth.
You may sense the pressure of the soles of your feet against the ground,
Feeling gravity.
In through your nose and out through your nose.
The second breath is the water breath.
Water is less dense and more mobile than the earth.
It is the lifeblood of manifestation.
Its fluidity exhibits qualities of motion,
Creativity,
Purity,
And generosity.
Often I visualize a waterfall over my head as I do this breath.
So the breathing practice again,
One to five minutes,
Usually the simple breaths of inhaling in through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
This stimulates the descending motion of the subtle energetic current of the breath.
The direction of water is downward and this is why rain falls,
Water falls from springs and water is found below the earth.
The third breath,
You may visualize the color green as you breathe in through your nose and exhale through the mouth.
As the body drink is of water,
So the heart's drink is of pleasure and sweetness.
With awareness,
Exhale fully and inhale deeply.
You may visualize a river,
A stream,
A pond,
Maybe even the ocean.
The next breath is the fire breath.
Fire is less dense and more intense than water.
Its warmth and radiance,
The fire exhibits the qualities of passion and burning conviction.
So you begin with the breath,
Inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nose.
This stimulates the ascending motion of the subtle energetic current of the breath.
The direction of fire is upward,
Therefore the flame and smoke rise and the sun,
The center of all heat is above.
The color is red.
So you may visualize this fire element as red,
Breathing in through the mouth and exhaling through the nose.
The next breath is the air breath.
Air is the most abstract of the four elements.
It marks the boundary between the manifest and the unmanifest.
Air exhibits the qualities of freedom,
Buoyancy,
And elation.
Inhale through the mouth and exhale through the mouth,
Stimulating the chaotic motion of the subtle energetic current of the breath.
The direction of the air is zigzag,
That is why the weather changes from time to time.
The color is blue.
Inhaling through the mouth and exhaling through the mouth.
Often I visualize the wings of a red-tailed hawk flying above me,
Free.
With each inhalation,
Let the flow of the new breath pervade the body more and more fully.
And the last breath is the ether breath.
The coloration of the ether is reflected in the rainbow,
And its direction is motionless and ubiquitous.
Its essential locus in the body is the heart.
This breath is a very gentle breath,
In through your mouth and your nose,
And out through your mouth and your nose.
Very gentle.
Five breaths.
The qualities of this breath are often a sense of peace and love.
May the elements balance and bless you all the days of your life.
Amen.
